Evelyn Maybury
N9138340
Tutor: Jey Rodgers
Cultural Artefact
http://www.romancescams.org/DealingwiththeDangers.html
The Artefact
The above cultural artefact represents social media, specifically dating websites, abuse via
technology and how it influences society. It questions whether current health promotional
programs target dating website users effectively and if they are receiving messages about
safe-sex- including information about consent, sexual assault and rape. The hearts
represent love and the words below show their connection to health and wellbeing. The
artefact displays how sexual abuse can result due to an individual’s lack of knowledge; it
also symbolizes the adverse effects on mental and physical health. The displayed word
‘information’ on the cultural artefact signifies the lack of safe-sex education that it is being
provided to society. Finally, the term romance with the two hearts joined together
symbolises the way sex and love is viewed as a direct result of the proliferation of dating
websites.
TOPIC.- SOCIAL MEDIA /ONLINE DATING DANGERS
Dating website users are being warned firmly about the dangers of online relationships
which can breach personal security and may result in sexual assault or rape; but while this
information is available, there are definite limits to effective delivery of these messages.
Mostly, information is being distributed in the hope that dating website users would click on
advertisement campaigns or read safe-sex messages, but there is a clear lack of cohesive
and comprehensive strategy to sufficiently counter the dangers of online relationships.
Therefore the subject of this discussion will be the health/safety connections between
online dating websites and social networking.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The potential dangers of online facilitated relationships cannot be underestimated. There
are millions of Australians who participate in this online activity, which is now commonplace
in Australian society (Donaldson, 2012). The biggest dating website in Australia, RSVP, has
over 2 million registered members, 52.4% being male and 47.6% being female, most being
under the age of 34 (Statistics Brain Research Institute, 2014). Approximately 97% (16-17)
use at least one type of social media (Evers, Albury, Byron & Crawford, 2013, p. 13). While
this may not be worrying in and of itself, the disturbing percentages of sexual abuse that can
result from this activity is harrowing. Predators can develop intimate relationships with their
victims by using different social media platforms to carry out their criminal activity
(Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell & Ybarra, 2010, p. 112). A particular point of concern is socially
disadvantaged youth; the YISS-2 survey found that vulnerable youth have a much higher risk
of sexual solicitation and/or harassment (Wolak, Janis, 2006). Data shows that 1 in 7 (13%)
online youth participants have received unwanted sexual solicitation (U.S. Department of
Justice, 2014, p.1). Also, it has been found that in romantic relationships, approximately
40% of young people have experienced at least one form of abuse via the medium of
technology (U.S. Department of Justice, 2014, p.1). The YISS-2 survey found that, “9% of
youth Internet users told interviewers about distressing exposures to sexual material”
(Wolak, Janis, p. 71). Furthermore, and worryingly, online assaulters often pursue
vulnerable youth who post sexually provocative photos, videos, those willing to talk about
sex with strangers online, and those who have previously been sexually or physically abused
(U.S. Department of Justice, 2014, p.1). So undoubtedly, responding and acting against the
dangers of potential sexual abuse or solicitation through online sources is immensely
important.
Researchers and theorists confirm that in contemporary society, romance and dating as a
whole have gone digital. It is the second most popular way of connecting with others,
exceeded only by individuals meeting people through friends (Donaldson, 2012). This shows
a vast difference in the way relationships were viewed in previous generations. They have
also found that 72% of the main target of abuse, youth, believe that digital abuse is
something that should be addressed by society (U.S. Department of Justice, 2014, p.1). This
is significant because the youth themselves see the potential perils of online activity and are
consciously aware of the help they need.
Currently researchers that focus on dating website users have enacted various programs to
warn of the risks of online activities (Usher, 2012). In 2011, Usher found that in Australia
although some health professionals were using social media and social networking there
was still considerable room for growth in the way these programs could target all audiences.
However, there is still a necessity for the industry to grow (Usher, 2011). An example of
effective targeting for young dating users was a pilot project run by the Burnet Institute,
University of Melbourne, and the Victorian College of the Arts that utilised social networking
and social media for interactive sexual health communication in relation to online
relationships, mostly between people aged 16 to 22 years old. The project created four
fictional characters that interacted online with each other and with other users through
social media and other online means (Gold et al, 2011). In 2006 MacDowell & Mitchell
researched the benefits of creating an interactive and “two-way” style of communication
through social media rather than being taught through a direct and “one-way” style of
communication. But as mentioned previously there are not enough sufficient programs to
target all age brackets and demographics (MacDowell & Mitchell, 2006). Dating website
users are being warned firmly about the dangers of online relationships which may breach
personal security and may result in sexual assault or rape; but while this information is
available, there are definite limits to effective delivery of these messages (GayNZ, 2006).
Too often, approaches to prevention shy away from realistic discussions about ordinary
sexual feelings. Instead they advise, “Tell a parent, teacher, or trusted adult if you feel
uncomfortable about anything you see on the Internet” (Internet Keep Safe Coalition, 2007).
Mostly, information is being distributed in the hope that dating website users would click on
advertisement campaigns or read safe-sex messages online, but there is a clear lack of
defined governmental and organisational strategy to sufficiently counter the dangers of
online relationships (GayNZ, 2006). Finally researchers highlight the immeasurable
importance of educating society about the risks of online activities due to the proliferation
of online media in Australian society. Some researchers such as
Le Mesurier say that there are campaigns that have been carefully designed to both deliver
a prevention message, and encourage users to click through to a website where they can
receive more detailed information about HIV risk, send away for free condoms, ask
questions of health promoters by email and provide feedback on the effectiveness of the
messages (GayNZ, 2006). Thus he proports that messages about safe sex are been sent in
one way or another. Other Researchers state the growing importance of forming innovative
programs so that the entire society can gain access to awareness and education. In contrast,
other researchers have concluded that there are clear limitations on how to readdress the
existent issue for the general public because of the morphing of Australian society as a
whole. The issue is therefore declared as highly problematic, with immensely problematic
solutions (GayNZ, 2006).
Currently, in terms of youth, researchers have state the necessity for school programs, but
have particularly underscored the importance of familial education. Parents have been
implored to protect their own children from threatening online activities through teaching
and the passing on of prevention messages. Alarmingly, the YISS-2 survey revealed that 34%
children had an exposure to sexual material online (Wolak, Janis, 2006, p. 46). The methods,
then, of reducing exposure consisted predominantly of filtering software on the children’s
computers to block X-rated sites and monitor their children’s online behavior. These
methodologies have been proven to help monitor and reduce children’s exposure to sexual
material.
Figure 1
Figure 1 shows the survey results of 1,500 youth who attended an Internet safety
presentation hosted by a law enforcement agency. Younger youth had more contact to this
information. Of the 1,500 youth surveyed, 23% of those ages 10 to 12 and 29% of those ages
13 and 14 had attended law-enforcement presentations compared to 17% of youth 15 and
older.
CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSIS
With the emergence of the Internet, people have begun to trust and use it with greater and
greater frequency, and throughout society there is a pervasive acceptance of its role even in
social interaction (Boyd; Brooks, 2011, 6). Contemporarily, people recognise that we are in
an era of change (Ogburn, 1922, 199; Miller 2011, 15). Today change is commonplace, and it
is happening at rates unprecedented, which is having an inevitable effect on the cultural
conditions of society (Ogburn, 1922, 199; Miller 2011, 15). Nowadays, the Internet
possesses an important role in defining communities by a common interest in moving
beyond barriers of time and place (Wolfe & Miller 2011, p. 15). Currently People of different
cultures can contact each other and interact effortlessly. Individuals with common or
different interests or values can connect more simply by using dating sites and reviewing
profiles online to gain a satisfactory understanding of one another (Moesker; Miller, 2011,
15). The effects of computer technology are astounding. Simple access to social networks
and the spreading of information incorporating pictures and videos has indicated that
communication is incessantly changing and with it, the way people form relationships
(Miller, 2011, p.15). However, these changes include the rise of internet-initiated sex crimes
that occur due to communication between offenders and victims. To address these
problems it is important to understand the cultural conditions and readdress the issue
according to the set needs. One of the methods could be educating the vulnerable groups
such youth about the specific kinds of Internet interactions that are most associated with
victimization, such as talking online about sex to unknown people. At the same time,
judicious online contact with unknown people is not harmful or dangerous (Wolak, Mitchell,
& Finkelhor, 2002). Online “Predators” and their victims state that although online
molesters take advantage of developmentally normal adolescents, some youths might be
particularly at risk such homosexual youth or those who are questioning their sexuality,
those who are considering further sexual knowledge and those that have been physically or
sexual abused (Wolak, Finkelhor, Mitchell, & Ybarra, 2010). It is essential to understand
young people’s sexual cultures which involve “negotiating a mixture of biological changes,
peer pressure, conflicting parental messages, and the power of broader cultural messages
that shape expectations about sexual health in combination with the rest of their sexual
culture (pleasure, stigma, behaviours, ethics)“ (Carmody, 2009; Ito et al., 2009; Lenhart &
Madden, 2007; Livingstone, 2008; Pascoe, 2011; Pitts et al., 2003). This is pertinent because
socially disadvantaged and marginalized young people in Australia are particularly
vulnerable to poor sexual health (Keys et al., 2008; Warr & Hillier, 1997). The YISS-2 survey
showed that youth who engaged in a pattern of risky online behaviours in their interactions
with strangers were more at risk for unwanted sexual solicitation or harassment. Some think
that one of the reasons youth access other’s information online is due to the anonymity of
such communication. Also, young people may feel more comfortable asking a stranger
about sensitive health questions than asking those that they know such as family or
physicians (Subrahmanyam & Greenfield, 2008). Understanding various concepts or
behaviours in society and culture are essential because it could lead to better outcomes
when health issues should be addressed.
Analysis of Artefact and Personal Learning Reflection
My artefact emphasises the interconnection of social media, online dating and the potential
health/safety issues, which influence significantly on the outcomes of society and culture.
An illustrative case in point is the word ‘information’ depicted in the cultural artefact. A
great amount of research has been collected here with the sole intention of informing the
audience of substantial knowledge, and it is this information that educates the reader,
hence information is fundamental for progression in lessening sexual assault/abuse due to
online activity. The word information is crucial for me personally as it relates to the opening
of doors to accessing different worldviews, perspectives and solutions that can contribute to
future knowledge and interaction with the world. I’m certain that this assessment piece will
contribute towards my learning and thinking processes because I have been able to
recognise the importance of the role of society and culture in increasing the access to
education and improving information flow to better understand different topics such as
health related matters.
REFERENCES
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Unsafe sex rampant on internet dating �what can be done? (n.d.). Retrieved from
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U.S. Department of Justice. (2014). Facts and Statistics. Retrieved from
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